Building covering



Aug. 26, 1941. E. R. BLACK BUILDING COVERING 3 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed April23, 1938 jzwemz'oz' ZE/zdwrdi Black Aug. 26, 1941. E. R. BLACK BUILDINGCOVERING I Filed April 23, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 26, 1941. E. R.BLACK BUILDING COVERING Filed April 23, 1938 5 Shets-Sheet 3 fzav'ezairM w J Patented Aug. 26, 1941 nomnnvq covsamo name a. Black, cums, m,assignor to said Edward LBlaok, James E.Blaok, andElamL- Black,co-partners doing business as Black Systems, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 23, 1938, Serial N0. 03,908

My invention relates to building coverings-ethe weatherproof anddecorative sheath applied ex teriorly of building walls and roofs.

More particularly it relatesto a covering composed of units of what isfrequently and herein referred to as prepared roofing" consistinggenerally of a sheet of normally flexible material including a base offibrous stock or felt which is impregnated with asphalt or othersuitable weatherprooflng and preserving substance. Usually the felt iscovered, as well as being impregnated, with asphalt or the othersubstance and frequently itis surfaced on one side with granular mineralmaterial, such as stone, to enhance the protective and decorativequalities. Because of its flexibility, particularly during warm periods,and the inherent frailty of its felt base, it is essential to anchordown the butts or exposed edges of units of such material and theanchorages, such as nails, should not -be exposed.

Heretofore units of prepared roofing have not been employed asextensively as might be for the covering of building side walls, i. e.,siding, because the appearance has not been particularly attractive andon account of difllculties in handling, applying and anchoring the unitsand in suring waterproof joints where units come together.

My invention is especially applicable to and will be explained asembodied in side wall covering, i. e., siding, although it is also welladapted for roofs.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an attractivebuilding-covering particularly adapted for production and application inrelatively large units, 1. e., units of a size considerably larger thanthat of ordinary shingles.

Another object is to provide units which may be horizontally aligned andabutted with ease and to insure water-tight joints between such abuttingunits.

A further object is to provide adequate and permanent butt anchorage byordinary nails without the heads of the nails being exposed.

Another object is to provide units which will eifectively coverrelatively large areas for the amount of material used.

A further object is to provide a side wall covering that is attractivein appearance.

Another object is to provide units that may be easily laid.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

vIn the accompanying drawings several typical and illustrativeembodiments are shown.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a twoor twinpanel unit; i

. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the unit shown in Fig. 3 is a frontelevation of a portion of one form of multi-panel unit;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the unit'shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a slightly modifled form of multi-panelunit;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the unit shown in F18. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan, in reduced scale, of the blank for forming the unitillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 8 isa similar plan of the blank for forming the unit shown in Figs.3 and 4,

Fig. 9 is alike plan of a blank for forming the 20 unitoi Figs. 5 and 6;

- Fig. 10 is a front elevation of a section of siding inplace-particularly showing how joints are made between horizontallyaligned units of the type shown in Figs. 1 to 4;

Fig. 11 is a similar view showing joints between horizontally alignedunits such as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of two twin-panel units whichare abutted in horizontal alignment-particularly showing the method ofinsuring a water-tight joint therebetweem.

Fig. 13 is a similar view of two multi-panel units;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged vertical section at a joint between horizontallyaligned units, such as on the line ll-ll of Fig. 10;

Fig. 15 is a similar section of a slight modification on aline such asl5-II of Fig. 11,

Fig. 16 is an enlarged section on the line IBI6 of Fig. 10, and

Fig. 17 is an enlarged section on the line l1- I! of Fig. 12 showing amanner of rendering the unit assembly (panels and nail-holding strips)permanent for stifiness andeasy handling.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the twoor twin-panel unit includes anupper exposed portion or panel 5, a lower exposed portion or panel 6,and an intermediate inter-connecting foldedunder section "I. If granularcoated or other one-surface-flnish material is employed, it is to beunderstood that the finished surface is, at least usually, on the outeror exposed face of the units. The intermediate section is formed byfolding the sheet or blank twice along paral- 55 lel lines of differentlength and reversely, as will presently be more fully explained, so thatin this folded region the unit comprises three juxtaposed layers orthicknesses or plies. This results in an exposed fold or thickenedbutt-simulating line 8 extending between the ends or lateral edges ofthe unit intermediate its upper and lower edges, giving each unit theappearance of two vertically overlapping sections of siding. The loweredge of the unit includes a foldedunder section 9, with the result thatthe lower edge forms an exposed double thickness buttline I0. Preferablythe intermediate buttsimulating-line 8 is spaced from the upper edge Hof the unit a distance equal to the amount a panel is actually exposed,plus the length of the overlap between panels, 1. e., the depth of theinter-connecting section. In other words, the upper and lower panels arepreferably of the same overall depth, although the depth of the actuallyexposed area of the lower panel is less than the overall depth of thatpanel by the depth of the intermediate inter-connecting section. Theupper panel is thus made deeper than the depth of the actual exposure ofthe lower panel in order that when the upper edge of one unit isoverlapped by the lower edge of the next higher unit by an amount equalto the depth of the unit-intermediate section, the actual exposure ofthe upper panel will be the same as the actual exposure of the lowerpanel. The upper panel and intermediate section of a unit are offsetfrom the lower panel, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, so that, as will bepresently explained, units may be horizontally aligned and abutted tocomplete a course of siding of any length and the joint-line will bebroken or staggered to facilitate prevention of leakage. In other words,each panel projects beyond the other at one lateral edge of the unit andis set back from the other at the opposite lateral edge of the unit. Ofcourse, the ofl'set may be in the opposite direction, if desired.

I prefer to complete each unit by inserting a holding piece-preferablyin the form of a thin metal strip I2in the pocket formed between eachpanel and the underlying portion--whether that portion be anintermediate section such as I or a lower edge turned-under section suchas 9. In this manner the underlying sections 1 and 9 become anchorstrips provided with overlying holding strips (such holding strips,however, being behind the exposed panels or body portions) and the unitscan be anchored by applying nails through the front or exposed faces anddriving the nails into the underlying building framework until the headsthereof have been, in effect, countersunk through the body or exposedpanels to lie against the holding strips, as clearly explained in myPatent No. 1,959,519 of May 22, 1934.

Figs. 3 and 4 show units-I term them multipanel unitscomposed of anydesired number of panels l5, l6, l1, l8, etc., adjacent panels beinginter-connected by double-reverse folds and intermediate sections I 9,20, 2 I, 22, etc., in precisely the same manner as heretofore explainedfor the twin-panel unit. In this arrangement each panel is ofiset to theleft from the one therebelow so that a joint between two horizontallyaligned units will be broken or stepped diagonally across the face ofthe building. of course, the offsetting may be in the oppositedirectioni. e., to the right-if desired.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a multi-panel unit such Alternate panels are oflsetin opposite directions so that when two such panels abut horizontallythe joint-line therebetween is in the form of a broken or staggered lineextending vertically across the face of the building wall.

Constructions such as illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 lend themselvesparticularly wellto conditions where it is desirable and feasible tohandle and apply the covering in large units-panels being fabricatedtogether into units several feet in" length.

Referring now to Fig. '7, the twin-panel unit is formed from a blank,such as here shown, cut from a sheet of the desired character ofprepared roofing. The upper section A-from which are formed the upperexposed panel and intermediate section-is ofiset to the left of thelower section B-from which are formed the lower exposed panel andturned-under edge-by an amount which will insure the desired break orstaggering in the Joint-lines between horizontally aligned and abuttingunits. Preferably this offset should be several inches.

Each blank is provided with three fold lines parallel to each other andparallel to the upper and lower edges of the blank. The intermediate ofthese fold lines 0-4) is shorter than the other two and preferably isformed by cutting entirely through the material at appropriately spacedintervals so that the material along this line will fold very abruptlyand compactly. In practice, these cuts need be only slitsno materialbeing actually removed-but in the drawings they are shown somewhatexaggerated into the appearance of slots more clearly to indicate thatthis shorter fold line is defined by something more and other than amere indentation or scratch in the surface. This line of fold a-bdefined by the slits or cuts constitutes the rear or concealed foldbetween the lower exposed panel 6 and the intermediate section I. Thefold line o--d in section A defines or locates the exposedbutt-simulating fold 8 between the upper exposed panel 5 and theintermediate section 'I. The foldline a4 defines or locates the foldalong which the under-folded section 9 is turned back and under the bodyof the unit and marks the bottom-butt fold ll. Preferably the fold lines0-4 and 0-! are merely indentations or scratches extending onlypartially through the blank from the back-i. e., the unfinished surface.These cut-thmugh and indented fold lines are for the purpose offacilitating the formation of the requisite folds precisely on the linesnecessary to the production of units sufllciently perfect to layproperly and present a pleasing appearance when laid.

After a unit has been folded and holding strips l2 have been insertedbetween the upper panel and the folded-back intermediate section I, andbetween the lower panel and the lower edge tumed-back portion 9, Iprefer that the folds be firmly and tightly held together in somesuitable manner, such as shown in Fig. 1'1, by means of a suitableadhesive ii, for example, asphalt. By this treatment the folds areretained (that is, prevented from straightening out or unfolding to anyobjectionable extent) the holding strips are held in place and the unitsare rendered stiffer and otherwise more easily and safely handled as anentirety. This matter of complete unit handling is important becauseotherwise the metal strips would tend to fall out and, consequently, toinsure against loss it might usually as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 with thisdifference: 7 e advisable to ship the strips separately. or

spasms backing units at with narrow metal strips n' so course, byretaining the strips permanently in place this objection is overcome.The extra stiffness at the butt is also an advantage.

The blanks shown in Figs. 8 and 9 are suitable for forming units such asillustrated in Figs. 3

. and 5, respectively. The fold lines -D and lapped so as to form awater-tight joint-Fig. 10 showing all of the vertical lines of the jointoffset in the same direction (Fig. 1 or Fig. 3 type unit) and Fig. 11showing the vertical joint lines alternately offset in oppositedirections (Fig. 1 or Fig. type units). Thus, as shown most clearly inFig. 12, the units are horizontally aligned and fitted together so thatthe projecting or overhanging left end of the upper panel of one unitabuts the set-back right end of the upper panel of an adjacent unit.Similarly, the projecting right end of the lower panel of one unit abutsthe set-back left end of the lower panel of the adjacent unit, and whenthus fitted together the overhanging or projecting lower butt-fold of 35one unit vertically overlaps the projecting upper edge of the lowerpanel of the adjacent unit. Although Fig. 12 does not show the twohorizontally align-ed twin-units in final position (in such positionthey, of course, abut each other), still it does show very clearly howthe projecting end of the upper panel of one unit overlaps'horizontallyand vertically the projecting end of the lower panel of the adjacentunit and how by this overlap the vertical joint line between the twounits is broken and staggered to lessen the tendency toward leakage.

When the metallic holding strips I! are substantially the same length asthe panels back of which they lie, so that the strip ends comesubstantially flush with the ends of the panels, as shown in Fig. 12, asmall joint-backing unit 25, which may be formed from a sheet of asphaltimpregnated felt, paper or other suitable material, is inserted upwardlybetween corresponding sets of panels of adjacent units and behind eachof the two staggered vertical lines of abutment of the ends of adjacenthorizontally aligned panels. After being inserted in this position theends of the units adjacent the joint and the small joint-backing unitsmay be held in place and anchored to the building framework 21 by nails28 driven through from the front face until the heads are countersunkthrough the body of the panel against the metallic holding striptherebehind, as shown clearly in Fig. 14. Other nails may be appliedfrom the front through the panels in the regions where they are backedby holding strips-i. e., along the lower butt edges and the intermediatebutt-simulating foldssuch nails being also countersunk through thepanels and against the holding strips.

When it is desired to make the metallic holding strips of a length-lessthan the length of the panels, I prefer to provide the small sheetjoint- 5 mediate vicinity of the joints, as shown most for aligned unitsmay be abutted and in part overthat such strips will partly orcompletelybridge the gap betweenthe main metallic'holding strips II and therebyserve as holding strips in the imclearly in Figs. 13 and 15.

Covering units suchas herein described and illustrated aptly lendthemselves to attractive surface designs, such-as to simulate brickworkside walls. Thus, before the folding is done, the blanks or the sheetsfrom which the blanks are cut may be provided with vertical. andhorizontal lines of granular facing material ofa color differing fromthe major portions of the surface-for example, lined with black whereasthe major area maybe red-to simulate bricks and interposed mortar. whendecorative surfacing is desired, especially effective concealment of thenail heads may be provided by so arranging black or other metalsimulating colors in the regions where nails are to be driven-that is,in the regions where holding strips are 10- cated therebehind. Ifdesired, particularly when the roofing material is thin and relativelyweak, the units fabricated as herein shown and described may bereinforced by being cemented or otherwise suitably secured to a backingsheet of heavy, tough strong paper or other appropriate material.

Having explained and illustrated the nature and typical embodiments ofmy invention, what I claim and desire to secure by United States LettersPatent is:

1. A building covering comprising a plurality of horizontally alignedand abutting units, each unit being formed from a sheet of preparedroofing material bent along a plurality of horizontal lines to formvertically overlapping exposed panels and intermediate concealed inter-40 connecting sections between panels, the marginal edges of adjacentpanels being oflset so that the adjacent units abut along horizontallystaggered vertical lines; a nail-head holding strip interposed betweenthe panels and interconnecting sections of each unit; a joint-backingsection located behind and underlapping the abutting edges of eachhorizontally aligned pair of panels; and anchoring nails applied fromthe exposed faces of the panels through the units and joint-backingsections and driven into the building framework until the heads thereofengage the nail-head holding strips.

2. A building covering comprising a plurality of vertically overlappingand horizontally aligned and abutting units, each unit being formed froma sheet of prepared roofing material bent along a plurality ofhorizontal lines to form vertically overlapping exposed panelsinter-connected by concealed inter-connectingsections, theinterconnecting sections having a depth less than the depth of theexposed panels and the marginal edges of adjacent panels being offset sothat horizontally aligned abutting units meet on staggered joint lines;a nail-head holding 5 strip interposed between certain exposed panelsand the inter-connecting sections therebehind; a joint-backing sectionlocated behind the joint lines between horizontally aligned units; andanchoring nails applied from the exposed sides of the panels and throughthe units until the heads thereof engage against the nail-head holdingstrips, some of the nails also passing through joint backing sections.

I 3. A building covering unit comprising a sheet of flexibleprepared-roofing material folded intermediate its upper and lower edgesalong two lines parallel to such edges to form slightly overlappingupper and lower panels and an intermediate interconnecting concealedsection therebetween, the upper panel and the interconnecting sectionprojecting laterally beyond the lower panel at one lateral edge of theunit and the lower panel projecting equally beyond the upper panel andinterconnecting section at the opposite lateral edge of the unit so asto enable the projecting portions 01' the upper panel andinterconnecting section or one unit to overlie part of the laterallyprojecting portion of a lower panel of an adjacent unit when two unitsare horizontally adjacent unit both vertically and laid in horizontalalignment and abutting each 15 ho o yother.

4. A building covering unit comprising a sheet EDWARD R. BLACK.

